Customized Self-Employment Part 6: Getting Started Managing A Business

Unemployment is challenging for anyone, but it is particularly difficult for people with disabilities or other unique support needs. Self-employment is a growing option that offers new possibilities as an alternative way to earn income. This course is the sixth in a series of courses on customized self-employment and is based on the work of Griffin-Hammis Associates, leaders in the field of employment support. Starting and operating your own business requires new skills and abilities for both the prospective business owner and their support team. Failure to take care of managing finances and government benefits can cause many problems, so this training provides critical information on two of the most important aspects of self-employment: Managing the finances of the business and the business owner’s government benefits. Through comprehensive lessons, examples, as well as interactive activities, you will gain the skills and confidence you need to support individuals in managing their own finances and benefits while operating their own small businesses. This course is applicable to people who support individuals with developmental disabilities, mental health challenges, physical disabilities, as well as other intensive support needs, especially those who receive government benefits.

Learning Objectives:Discuss why a small business owner who receives government benefits needs to track and report income appropriatelyDescribe what is meant by “responsible business ownership.”Describe the importance of the Business Team and the types of people that may help make it successful.

Instructor: Cary Griffin, MA

Cary Griffin is a Senior Partner at Griffin-Hammis Associates, a full service consultancy which specializes in building communities of economic cooperation, creating high performance organizations, and focuses on disability and employment. Cary maintains a strong relationship with the Rural Institute at The University of Montana, where he served as Director of Adult Community Services & Supports. He is the former Executive Director of the Center for Technical Assistance & Training (CTAT) in Denver. Cary provides training to administrative and direct service level professionals in the rehabilitation field; consultation to businesses and rehabilitation agencies regarding the employment of individuals with significant disabilities; conducts field-initiated research & demonstration; provides family & consumer case consultation; develops resources; and organizational development. Recently, Cary has been instrumental in designing self-employment protocols and training for individuals, agencies, and states.
Disclosure: Cary Griffin, MA has declared that no conflict of interest, Relevant Financial Relationship or Relevant Non-Financial Relationship exists.

Instructor: David Hammis

David Hammis is Senior Partner at Griffin-Hammis Associates, a full service consultancy which specializes in building communities of economic cooperation, creating high performance organizations, and focuses on disability and employment. David maintains an ongoing relationship with the Rural Institute at The University of Montana, where he served as Project Director for four employment and Social Security outreach training and technical assistance projects, and now serves as an Organizational Consultant for the Rural Institutes Rural Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment Expansion Design Project. Dave works with organizations nationally and internationally on benefits analysis, supported employment, supported entrepreneurial employment, and employment engineering.
Disclosure: David Hammis has declared that no conflict of interest, Relevant Financial Relationship or Relevant Non-Financial Relationship exists.

Instructor: Beth Keeton, MS

Ms. Keeton has worked closely with the state of Florida’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) to coordinate the development and implementation of a Self-Employment Certification curriculum. Florida VR has been the first in the nation to make such an extensive commitment to supporting self-employment as a possible outcome for all customers. Beth has served as the point-person for this effort and has been actively involved in all aspects of implementation including: developing the training curriculum; training VR vendors; and providing ongoing technical assistance to VR staff (both state and local), vendors, and customers. Additionally, Beth works with GHA on several other national projects, all of which are geared towards increasing the quantity and quality of employment outcomes through Customized Employment. For the last decade, Beth has provided extensive training and technical assistance throughout the country on positive behavior support, self-employment, customized employment, and benefits analysis. During her time on the various self-employment projects, she has developed expertise in all aspects of business plan development and has discovered a particular affinity for financial planning and Social Security benefits analysis.
Disclosure: Beth Keeton, MS has declared that no conflict of interest, Relevant Financial Relationship or Relevant Non-Financial Relationship exists.

Target Audience:The target audience for this course is: entry and intermediate level Direct Support Professionals; in the following settings: Intellectual Developmental Disabilities.

Relias Learning will be transparent in disclosing if any commercial support, sponsorship or co-providership is present prior to the learner completing the course.

Relias Learning has a grievance policy in place to facilitate reports of dissatisfaction. Relias Learning will make every effort to resolve each grievance in a mutually satisfactory manner. In order to report a complaint or grievance please contact Relias Learning at support@reliaslearning.com.

All courses offered by Relias Learning, LLC are developed from a foundation of diversity, inclusiveness, and a multicultural perspective. Knowledge, values and awareness related to cultural competency are infused throughout the course content.

To earn continuing education credit for this course you must achieve a passing score of 80% on the post-test and complete the course evaluation.

Course Delivery Method and FormatAsynchronous Distance Learning with interactivity which includes quizzes with questions/answers, and posttests.

Relias strives to measurably improve the lives of the most vulnerable members of society and those who care for them by providing online analytics, assessments and learning across healthcare. The product of a merger between Silverchair Learning, Essential Learning, and Care2Learn, Relias delivers a breadth and depth of content unrivaled by its competitors. We provide flexible e-Learning solutions to meet your needs: Relias Academy for individuals, Relias Learning Management System for organizations, Enterprise solutions for large organizations and partnerships. Relias Learning is based in Cary, North Carolina. For more information, visit www.reliaslearning.com.